Eastern Oregon University
School of Arts and Sciences
Loso Hall
La Grande, OR 97850
(541)962-3560
 

English/Writing Program

AP and Credit Overlay Policy




AP Credit Policy

AP Scores of 4-5 on either the Literature and Composition Test or the Language and Composition Test entitle the student to 10 Eastern lower division credits.

Four (4) credits are awarded for English 104.

Four (4) additional credits MAY be awarded for Writing 121 in one of two ways:

1) The credits are automatically awarded for WR 121 to students completing AP courses at high schools whose AP syllabus, standards, proficiencies, and evaluative criteria have been established through close collaboration with Eastern's English/Writing Program and the individual AP course instructor.These standards are to reflect explicitly PASS English Proficiency Standards.

2) Any AP student may petition for WR 121 credit by submitting a portfolio of work from a high school AP course that effectively represents the writing standards, proficiencies, and evaluative criteria from the AP English curriculum. The proficiency standards and criteria are to reflect explicitly PASS English Proficiency Standards. Portfolios should contain at least five writing samples, representing a number of modes, and providing evidence of drafting and editing. At least one piece must have been produced under test conditions and certified by the teacher or shcool. This body of evidence (the portfolio) must be sufficient to demonstrate proficiency in writing at the college level.

The portfolio should have a framing statement that effectively petitions Easternís English/Writing Program for WR 121 credit and that reflects upon the student's composition experience and abilities through reference to the documents in the portfolio. The portfolio must also contain a letter of support from the student's AP instructor that also guarantees that the work in the portfolio is the student's own. The portfolio will be reviewed by at least two members of the English/Writing Program before credit is awarded. In some cases, credit for WR 121 may not be approved.

Students who receive credit for both English 104 and Writing 121 shall receive two (2) additional credits applied to general baccalaureate degree requirements.

Students who receive credit for only English 104 shall receive six (6) additional credits applied to general baccalaureate degree requirements.

Students who receive an AP score of three (3) receive no Eastern credit.
 

**List of Approved AP High School Offerings, which entitle students to automatically receive credit for WR 121 in addition to ENGL 104:

No Offerings Currently Approved.
 
 

For other standardized tests, see Standardized Testing Policy.

Richard H. Haswell's "Raising the Cut-Off Score on the College Board Advanced Placement Examinations in Composition and Literature: Justification for a First-Year Writing Curriculum" includes comparative data and a rationale for maintaining high standards in allocating AP credit for writing.

Credit Overlay Policy
Students who wish to receive Eastern credit for WR 121 or English 104 must have their courses approved by the English/Writing Program. It is up to their teachers to have the courses approved prior to being offered. In order to be approved, the instructor must provide the following before offering the course:
  1. A detailed course syllabus indicating the nature of the course, texts to be used, assignments, and due dates.
  2. A statement of standards and outcomes explicitly reflecting PASS standards, criteria, and proficiencies. The teacher must provide outcomes and means of assessment statements on his or her syllabi that reflect those of Eastern's English/Writing program.
  3. A copy of the instructor's vita (resume).
  4. A set of representative student papers to be used for calibration between the Eastern English/Writing Program and the participating high school English program. That is, representative student papers, tests, and projects will be reviewed by the high school instructor and an Eastern English/Writing faculty member for the purpose of aligning "summary verification" (assessment and proficiency levels). Sample papers and projects may be reviewed during the course itself, while it is in progress, if it has already been approved.
  5. A completed Division of Distance Education Course Approval Form.
  6. Approved courses will be reviewed each year in order to maintain standards. Each time the course is taught the materials required above will have to be resubmitted.
Eastern's English/Writing Program approves individual teachers and courses, not departmental offerings. That is, each course by a specific teacher must be certified individually. Once an offering has been approved, changes in course focus can be authorized expeditiously, if Easternís English/Writing Program standards, means of assessment, criteria, and proficiencies are maintained.

This policy is aligned with recommendations for college credit courses taught in high schools from the Oregon Writing and English Advisory Committee (OWEAC: http://www.cocc.edu/elatham/oweac.htm) and with the Oregon University System's Proficiency-based Admissions Standards System (PASS: http://www.ous.edu/pass/).

English/Writing AP and Credit Overlay Liaison is Donald Wolff (dwolff@eou.edu or 541-962-3527).